Avalanche newcomer Nail Yakupov scores two goals in the win

BOSTON — A year ago, the Avalanche began 3-1 but won just 19 of its final 78 games and finished with an NHL-low 48 points.

So don't get too excited about Colorado's 2-1 start.

A healthy and happy Semyon Varlamov, however, could carry the Avs to a turnaround season they can be proud of.

On Monday, Varlamov was again fabulous in goal and the Avalanche continued to play flawless defense at even strength in defeating the Boston Bruins 4-0 in a Columbus Day matinee at TD Garden.

Colorado, which has now defeated the Bruins in 10 consecutive games in Boston, closed out its season-opening, three-game road trip. The Avs allowed only six goals on the trip, and none in even-strength situations. Their penalty killing, which was just 4-of-8 in the first two games, was 4-for-4 against the Bruins.

"It feels good to come home 2-1," said Avs defenseman Erik Johnson, who logged a game-high 28 minutes, 17 seconds of ice time. "We haven't come home from a road trip with a winning record in a long time. So it feels good to have that. But you can't rest on anything you've accomplished so far. We have to reset and not be satisfied and continue to push forward."

Varlamov, who had season-ending double hip surgeries in January and February, finished with 29 saves in improving to 2-0. He had 37 saves in Colorado's season-opening 4-2 road win Thursday against the New York Rangers.

"It's a good start for me. I didn't play for a long time," Varlamov said. "Came back and started the season with two wins. It brings confidence to the team. I thought today we played a very solid game."

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Newcomer Nail Yakupov had two third-period goals, and fellow forwards Sven Andrighetto and J.T. Compher scored in the first for an early 2-0 lead.

Yakupov gave the Avs a 3-0 lead on an unusual sequence 6:07 into the third period. In a race for a loose puck, he danced around Bruins goalie Tuuka Rask to shoot on an open net. The play began with defenseman Patrik Nemeth making a breakout pass to Matt Duchene on the wing, but Duchene directed the puck down the ice instead of collecting it.

Yakupov beat Rask to the puck inside the Bruins' right circle and didn't miss on an open net.

"I wanted Varly to play a shutout game today, and in the third period, it was all about playing good defensively," Yakupov said.

The Avs took their 2-0 lead on goals by Andrighetto and Compher (shorthanded) 4:41 and 13:22 into the first period. Andrighetto deposited a wrist shot behind Rask off a terrific centering pass from Mikko Rantanen. And Compher's wrister came on a shorthanded 2-on-1 rush with Carl Soderberg, who dished sideways to Compher in forcing Rask to move side to side.

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